Adverse change in both visceral adipose tissue (VAT) quality and quantity was associated with regular sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, but not for diet soda. This according to a study of 1,003 participants where the quantity and quality of abdominal adipose tissue were measured in 2 exams, 6 years apart. Participants were categorized into 4 groups: 0 to <1 serving/month (non-consumers); 1 serving/month to <1 serving/week; 1 serving/week to 1 serving/day; and ≥1 serving/day (daily consumers) of either SSB or diet soda. Study results included:

• Higher SSB intake was associated with greater change in VAT volume.

• In contrast, diet soda consumption was not associated with change in abdominal adipose tissue.

Citation: Ma J, McKeown NM, Hwang SJ, Hoffman U, Jacques PF, Fox CS. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with change of visceral adipose tissue over 6 years of follow-up. [Published online ahead of print January 11, 2016]. Circulation. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018704.

Commentary: The increase in prevalence of obesity and diabetes has become a major health priority. Abdominal adipose tissue, and specifically VAT, has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as has SSB intake. The results of this study support that SSB are unhealthy, that SSB add little or nothing in the way of productive nutrients to our diet, and that their use should be discouraged. —Neil Skolnik, MD